Edward J. Gilliss, a former Baltimore County Attorney and Baltimore County School Board chair recalled for his standards of leadership, died of a heart attack on Dec. 22 at his Towson home. He was 69.

He also led the transition of what is now the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center to the State of Maryland.

Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger said, “Ed was decent, hardworking and loyal. Everybody respected him. He was a good family man who could take the positive side of an issue. He was a good trial attorney and I relied upon him.”

Born in Baltimore and raised in Northwood, he was the son of Rollie Downing Gilliss, vice president of Fidelity & Deposit Co., and Ethel May Rankin “Mickey” Gilliss, who taught at Northwood Appold School. He graduated from Northern High School in 1973 and earned degrees at the College of Wooster and the University of Maryland School of Law.

He became a partner at Royston, Mueller, McLean & Reid, LLP and was named Baltimore County Attorney in 2001.

“Ed Gilliss was everything that you would want in a lawyer, husband, father, brother, and friend. He had an outgoing personality, ubiquitous smile, friendly demeanor, and was the very definitive example of a people person,” said retired Maryland U.S. District Judge Paul Grimm. “Ed practiced law the way he lived his life — with integrity, civility, and professionalism. … Ed used his profession to help others. I never heard a bad word spoken about Ed — even from those who were on opposite sides of his cases.”

“Financial and political leaders relied upon Ed for advice. He was a natural leader and had an exceptional ability for hard work,” said Keith Truffer, a judge on the Baltimore County Circuit Court.

Mr. Gilliss served on the school board from 2013 to 2018 and was its chair for two years. He headed the board during the resignation of School Superintendent Dallas Dance.

He additionally was chair of the Baltimore County Planning Board from 2008 to 2013.

He was a past board chair of the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center and led the organization through its transition from a Roman Catholic institution to the state medical system.

“Ed was courageous,” said Dr. Thomas B. Smyth, the hospital’s president and CEO. “He was a great leader and made the right decisions. He led the hospital through a turbulent time. He was smart, kind and gentle and had an amazing love for this institution.”

Mr. Gillis belonged to the Dissenters Law Club and had been president of the Maryland State, and Baltimore County, bar associations. He was also a Baltimore County Recreation League boys’ coach.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Jan. 11 at Second Presbyterian Church, 4200 St. Paul Street, where he was a trustee. He was also treasurer for the Baltimore Presbytery.

Survivors include his wife of 44 years, Barbara Stultz Gilliss; three sons, Ned Gilliss, of Brooklyn, New York, Tim Gilliss, of Danville, California and Tom Gilliss, of Washington, D.C.; a brother, David Gilliss, of Towson; a sister, Lynne Gilliss Degen, of Abingdon; and five grandchildren.

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